POWER OF RESPONSIBILITY
Managers have crucial roles in an organization in that they have to ensure operation is conforming to the standards of the organization. Managers are not only responsible for delivering results through the team but maintain the morale of the team they manage as well.
Thus managers are not just channels for organizational communication through reporting or just task masters wielding power rested with them by whipping or goading subordinates.
Managers are truly bridges between the management and the executives. They are the catalyst for the growth of the organization by increasing employee productivity through deft handling of people reporting to them.
This call for a very special disposition that does not just limit to positional authority but transcends to become a positive influence in the work environ.
No doubt managers are for managing for results. At the same time help people to reach their goals. Help them feel better about themselves. Catch them doing right, control them (not condemn them) when they go wrong.
In short an influential leadership is what is expected of them. That alone works in the changed working environ of this high tech communication age.
Thus a manager needs to walk his talk and be a role model for subordinates. That alone commands respect and positively influences the team to contribute better and better.
RESPONSIBILITY goes with authority. So managers have to realize the power of responsibility to make the best of them. In fact responsibility is response ability.
There are four ways by which a manager can respond to work environ and positively influence the team for better results.
1. Be first on, last off, and add extra value-
A manager needs to be the first person to set the ball rolling. He must take the initiative to infuse enthusiasm and provide guidance and direction to team members. He must make himself available to them as & when the team requires his assistance. Equally the finishing touch for the task should be from his end, meaning a final check to ensure system is in place and delivery is as earlier planned. He must take responsibility for the outcome of the activity and be answerable and accountable. In fact he must attempt to provide more than expected of him.
2. Never trade results for excuses-
An excuse is nothing more than a justification or explanation for doing or not doing something. Excuse comes handy only for those who shirk responsibility. Excuse is something one lets go of easily with some simple rationalization. The lesson is that if one commits to something one should do it even if it be a strain to the nerves.
In fact successful completion of a task secrets feel good endorphins in the brain that stimulates and strengthens a personality.
What is personality anyway? It is a person’s ability. Personal ability enhances with responsibility. Thus a person’s sense of worth and esteem soars high that paves way for rewards and recognitions.
3. Solve problems in advance-
According to PETER F DRUCKER, the management guru, 80% of management problems are communication problems. True, by not properly communicating the fact problems arise. In most of the organizations it is fire fighting and not prevention has become a habit. Of course not all problems can be foreseen or anticipated. Yet most of the problems can be solved by resolving to focus on the task on hand and taking time and care to mend ways to achieve results than sitting over it. Flexibility of approach than conformity to convention is advisable.
4. Always make those around you look good-
Time has come to shift from `get the job done’ approach to `let’s do what’s best’ attitude. People are basically good and want to give their best. The distracting factor to their output is the apathetical attitude of superiors towards them. Being insensitive to their needs tantamount to sapping their enthusiasm for work. A good manager makes his team feel good and thus motivate them to contribute their best for the organization. This can happen if and only if they are treated as respectable human beings and the manager facilitates to restore their dignity of labour. An atmosphere charged with enthusiasm automatically increases productivity. People will be willing to participate with greater cooperation and team spirit. None of us is as smart as all of us. So an effective manager makes everyone feel good about one self and stimulates to volunteer for extra load with a willful heart than by coercion and threat.
By these four ways one can exhibit one’s power of responsibility and reap the rewards of glory.
`When you pray, pray as though everything is dependent on GOD
When you work, work as though everything is dependent on you’
